Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Stony Brook University School of Dental Medicine's Students Act for Equity (SAFE) Subcommittee

About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the School of Dental Medicine:

We embrace diversity and inclusiveness in people and ideas. Through the programs and initiatives of the School of Dental Medicine led by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, we aim to increase representation within the field of dental medicine and to foster the accessibility of healthcare to underserved communities. 

Our Team:

Dr. Clarisa Amarillas Gastelum 
SDM Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
(631) 632-8631
clarisa.gastelum@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Josephine Levan
Coordinator for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
(631) 632-6985
josephine.levan@stonybrookmedicine.edu

The Diversity Committee 
The School of Dental Medicine's Diversity Committee works to ensure that the School of Dental Medicine's services, procedures, policies, and communications for students, residents, faculty, and staff support the goal of the University’s Diversity Plan. The committee reviews and makes recommendations on diversity-related matters, not limited to working with students, faculty, and staff to monitor, evaluate, advocate for, and report on matters pertaining to the diversity climate of the School of Dental Medicine. 

The Students Act for Equity (SAFE) Subcommittee 
The School of Dental Medicine's SAFE subcommittee works to create an environment at the School of Dental Medicine where the diverse identities of our students, residents, faculty, and staff are welcomed by augmenting our education to include discussion sessions about diversity and intersectionality and creating spaces for everyone to learn from one another. 

Initiatives and Events: 

The Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship Program

The Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship is a Graduate Fellowship Program for eligible underrepresented students whose immediate academic plans include obtaining graduate or professional degrees in a variety of disciplines at Stony Brook University. The fellowship is one of the many programs coordinated by the Center for Inclusive Education at Stony Brook University and is funded by the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The Dr. W. Burghardt Turner Fellowship is a Graduate Fellowship Program for eligible underrepresented students whose immediate academic plans include obtaining graduate or professional degrees in a variety of disciplines at Stony Brook University. The fellowship is one of the many programs coordinated by the Center for Inclusive Education at Stony Brook University and is funded by the SUNY Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Discover Dental School: Summer Scholars' Program

This intensive introductory course is designed for pre-dental undergraduate college students and students considering the dental profession. Two scholarships are awarded to underrepresented minorities with financial hardship. Working in Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine's advanced pre-clinical laboratory, participating students will gain valuable hands-on experience and will discover what the preclinical courses of dental school are truly like. With the assistance of faculty and current students, this 5-day course will help to enlighten you and confirm your interest in dentistry.

Preparation for Dental School: College Program

This Dental Career Workshop Series will be offered on five Saturdays over six months. The series consists of an intensive, hands-on curriculum that exposes college students to careers in dentistry. Participants have the opportunity to be mentored by faculty and current dental students and receive an in-depth look at a premier public dental school well-known for its excellent educational experience. Financial support will be awarded to select college students from underrepresented minority communities.

Preparation for Dental School: High School Program

This program is designed to engage high school students in diverse Long Island communities with the dentistry profession. An educational presentation is given to participants explaining advances and new technologies in dental medicine and career opportunities in the field.

HOPE Program

Organized by the Department of Community Relations at Stony Brook University Hospital, high school volunteers from Brentwood, Longwood, and Wyandanch school districts are welcomed to visit the School of Dental Medicine. Students are provided with an overview of careers in the field of dental medicine and a tour of the dental school. This experience is held each fall. 

High School Visits and Tours

Students from Clara Barton, Roosevelt, and Wyandanch high schools visit the School of Dental Medicine and receive a presentation from faculty members or current dental students about dentistry and dental careers. The purpose of this program is to enhance diversity in the recruitment of predoctoral students. 

Recruitment Fairs and Exhibits

Representatives of the School of Dental Medicine participate in the following recruitment fairs and exhibits: 

  • National ADEA GoDental Recruitment Fair
  • The Yale School of Medicine Office of Diversity, Inclusion, Community, Engagement, and Equity (DICE) Pre-Health Conference and Recruitment Fair
  • Annual ADEA GoDental Recruitment Fair
  • Stony Brook University Medical and Health Professional School Fair
  • LGBTQ Conference at Hunter College

PACE Center

An interprofessional wellness center that focuses on meeting the health promotion and disease prevention needs of older adults with multiple chronic conditions on Long Island. The PACE Center team includes nurse practitioners, social workers, dentists, and students. The practice addresses the health promotion, clinical prevention, oral health, and social services needs of older adults living in vulnerable communities.

Mobile Dental Clinic

The Mobile Dental Clinic provides preventive services and specific dental treatments to children. The mobile dental clinic is fully equipped with three state-of-the-art dental operatories and is ADA-compliant. Services are provided throughout Suffolk County, including at elementary schools, homeless shelters, and Long Island Head Start locations.

School-Based Programs

Dental screenings, cleanings, fluoride treatment, and oral health education programs are provided to over 20 elementary schools in underserved communities on Long Island with the goal of increasing accessibility to necessary dental medicine services. 

Give Kids A Smile® Day

Each year approximately 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members volunteer at local Give Kids A Smile events to provide free oral health education, screenings, preventive and restorative treatment to over 300,000 children from underserved communities. Give Kids A Smile is a program of the American Dental Association. Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine hosts its event each August ahead of children returning to school. 

National and International Community Outreach Programs

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine faculty and students provide oral healthcare services and education at locations throughout the globe. On a national level, teams visit South Dakota and areas of Appalachia on an annual basis. On a global level, teams visit Chile, Guatemala, Madagascar, and the Dominican Republic. 

University Resources for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Office of Equity and Access

The Office of Equity and Access (OEA) is the primary office of compliance for equity and the leading resource for diversity and cultural competency related questions at Stony Brook University. This function is essential in fulfilling OIDE’s mission to ensure a campus climate that is safe, accessible, welcoming and free from all forms of discrimination, including sexual misconduct.

Presidential Mini-Grants for Departmental Diversity Initiative

The Presidential Mini-Grants for Departmental Diversity Initiative is designed to foster new projects, to test out ideas, and to determine what may be the seeds of growth for the University.

This long-standing program supports selected proposals that promote awareness, skills, and knowledge about issues related to race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, abilities, age, and/or religion. Preference will be given to proposals that are tied to the goals of the Stony Brook Plan for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity.